Former cricketer makes last eight at WTA Malaysian Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Former cricketer Ashleigh Barty put up a splendid performance to book a berth in the quarterfinals of the 2017 ALYA WTA Malaysia Open at the TPC Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
All it took for the 20-year- old Australian was only 58 minutes to thrash Japan’s Miyu Kato 6- 0, 6-3 in a second round match.
The 2011 Wimbledon junior champion, currently ranked 158, will play against China’s Zhang Kai Lin for a place in the semifinals.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Ashleigh promised to keep her winning momentum going in the tournament well into the last four after having come all the way
After the comeback, my tennis is getting better...I am older and wiser, and have matured mentally. Ashleigh Barty, former Wimbledon junior champion
from the qualifying round.
“The scores in both sets look impressive but the match was very tough. I have played many matches here and the conditions are not easy for anyone. I think it has been a good start to the season as I worked very hard last year to regain my touch,” she said.
Despite having started to play tennis at the tender age of five, the right handed player decided to quit in 2014 due to personal reasons and started to play cricket instead, where she was signed by the Brisbane Heat team for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League.
After spending almost two years out of the tennis court, she found her true calling in tennis and grab her racket once again early last year.
“It was a good period off tennis... had some fun playing a team sport. I met nice people. However, I began to miss tennis as I felt I was born to play the sport. After the comeback, my tennis is getting better...I am older and wiser, and have matured mentally,” she added.
In other matches, China’s Han Xinyun ended qualifier Anna Kalinskaya’s ( Russia) fairytale run with a 6-3, 6- 0 win, while sixth seeded Wan Qiang of China ousted compatriot Zheng Saisai 6-1, 6-1.
Meanwhile, fifth seed Duan Ying-Ying of China had to struggle for almost two hours before edging Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6- 0, 4- 6, 7- 5.
In the doubles match, Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Ipek Soylu of Turkey upset second seeds Shuko Aoyama of Japan and China’s Yang Zhaoxuan pair 6- 2, 3- 6, 75 (10- 5) to reach the semifinals. — Bernama